"Up with you now, come and wash your master's...equal in years," says Penelope to Eurycleia. This is what we now would call a Freudian slip, or an unintentional truth spoken in error.
Penelope tells Odysseus of her dream, in which an eagle swoops down and kills her twenty geese, an obvious portent -- one of those dreams that are "fraught with truth, for the dreamer who can see them."
She tells Odysseus also of the contest she will set up, in order to choose a suitor. What is the contest, and why does Odysseus press her to begin the contest right away?
Discuss any one of these moments in the book.
When Penelope tells Eurycleia to “wash your master’s… equal in years,” she means that Eurycleia and Odysseus are similarly older, so it is appropriate for the nurse to wash him. However, what Penelope doesn’t realize is that her statement is in fact incredibly accurate, as the beggar is Odysseus, Eurycleia’s master. Penelope also makes a passing reference to how Odysseus’ hands and feet must be aged like the beggar’s by now. Again, she doesn’t know how correct she is.
ReplyDeleteThis small segment was written in to build both suspense for the moment that Odysseus reveals himself, as well as to help build the hero’s reputation of his great mental and physical strength. Despite Penelope coming very close to discovering Odysseus’ true identity, he still is able to remain cool, and not show his emotions when the queen cries.
Eurycleia’s discovery serves as a segway into the story of how Odysseus received his scar. This story enforces his epithet of “the man of pain.” No matter how much Odysseus suffers, he is still able to survive or prevail.
"Destroy, I call it," says Penelope to the beggar who is really her husband. She is referring to Troy. "Odysseus will return, true as the old moon dies and the new moon rises into life." returns Odysseus. I like Penelope's wit. Her 'destroy' pun sort of shows why her and Odysseus are married. It also shows what she thinks of war, which fits with the modern day stereotypical woman.
ReplyDeleteWhat I found funny was the second part. The old moon doesn't die, so I don't know how sure it is that Odysseus will return. I thought the ancient Greeks were supposed to be good at astronomy.
"Destroy, I call it..." says Penelope. Apparently, the Greeks had epic puns 4000 years ago. This also signifies that Penelope is actually pretty witty herself. Her son Telemachus doesn't really match his parent's in wit, however. It's a hard feet to do when you have the wily Odysseus and crafty Penelope as parents. I was pleasantly surprised by this pun and when I first read it, I laughed out loud. It was a real revelation on the human condition reading this -- we were always hilarious.
ReplyDeleteThe contest is to shoot arrows through the rings of twelve axes. I think the reason Odysseus wants her to start this competition right away is because then the suitors will be thinking about something else and not trying to take over the palace. Also they will be happy that Penelope is finally deciding to choose a suitor. In addition to the other factors, they will be so preoccupied with practicing for the contest that they will forget about trying to gain Penelope's love and she is free to do as she pleases. Overall, I think this contest would be impossible to complete, but we shall see what happens soon.
ReplyDeleteAt the end of the book Penelope brings up a contest that will determine who she will wed. The contest is to shoot arrows through rings of twelve axes. After telling Odysseus about this contest, he then forces her to begin the contest immediately. First, I think she makes up this contest because then the suitors will be distracted from planning to kill Telemachus and disrupting everyone else's everyday lives. They will be too busy focusing on how to impress Penelope with their mighty skills. Therefore, the faster they plan the contest and start it, Odysseus, Athena, and Telemachus, can begin their mischievous plan to chase the suitors out of Ithaca for good.
ReplyDeletePenelope sets up a contest, shooting arrows through axes, which will later decide who she will marry. Odysseus wants her to start the contest right away, so the suitors will get distracted trying to win Penelope over and kill Telemachus. Making them compete against each other, will allow them to get competitive and begin to worry less about Penelope and everyday life. As soon as the contest is planned out and begins, Odysseus & Telemachus, with help from Athena, can generate a clever plan for the suitors.
ReplyDeleteAt the end of the book Penelope speaks of a contest. She says the first person to shoot an arrow through the rings of twelve axes will be her new husband. Although the contest is about choosing a new husband, Odysseus tries to convince to do it a soon as possible. But for good reason, because the suitors will be distracted with the contest and trying to win the hand of penelope while Odysseus and telemachus prepare to slaughter them. And as we saw in this book, Odysseus and his son stole the suitors weapons and Homer/Fagles continue to build up the suspense before the final climax to ensure an epic ending to this epic epic.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with Jack when he says that the Greeks had epic puns. That remark is really quite clever considering the fact that she does not seem like the person, at first glance, that would make that kind of remark. Jack also points out something when he says that it appears the Telemachus did not inherit the wit of his mother and father so far. However, this might change in the last couple of books. Also it shows that Penelope and Odysseus are very alike in the fact that both are very clever and are able to make these witty remarks.
ReplyDeleteOdysseus along with Athena is blazing for a battle. He is anxious to start the contest and win back his wife. The Contest is a target challenge where each suitor must try to fire an arrow through 12 small rings in the tips of 12 axes. By starting the challenge Odysseus will end Penelope's long wait and ensure that Telemachus will not be living in fear again. Odysseus will win the challenge and kill the suitors retaking his place as king of Ithaca.
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